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Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thankfulness makes for peace

THANKFULNESS MAKES FOR PEACEFrom Bernard Y. Gutierrez

How can we feel thankful when so much is wrong, so much is difficult,so much is not the way we'd like it to be? In today's Gospel passage,we see Jesus crying. We know this same sorrow. We have felt the painof crying for others, grieving over the harm that they are doing tothemselves by remaining in sin or addictions or bad decisions,mourning also because of the harm that they are doing to us and toothers. When we have felt this way, we have felt HIS pain, Christ'sown pain.

As he came within sight of Jerusalem while making his way down theMount of Olives, Jesus stopped to look across the narrow valley andgaze into the soul of the city. He longed to give his peace to allthose who lived there. Don't you sometimes feel the same way towardsome of the people you know? United to Jesus, we can say: "If you onlyknew what makes for peace, but you have completely lost it from view!"We see how darkness surrounds them and how sin is infiltrating theirwalls. We're aware that if they had heeded our warnings or followedour advice, they would not be doing so poorly.

Crying because you care about someone who's rejecting the saving powerof God is a great blessing to Jesus who cries with you.

But, what about the ways WE reject God help? How can we feel thankfulwhen it's us who have lost peace? Jesus has cried for you, too. Do youhave any turmoil or stress within you? Jesus yearns to give you hispeace.

Whatever is disturbing us, if we expect it be resolved the way WE wantit fixed and as fast as WE demand it, we shall meet withdisappointment and failure and hopelessness. We can't see the goodthat God is doing while we're focused on our miseries and our own so-called solutions to the problems.

Stuck in our limited perspectives, we fail to recognise the time ofChrist's visitation. So we reject what he offers us and we fail tonotice that he is right here in front of us offering us a greater goodthan what we think we need. We fail to recognise how he's trying tobless our lives. Stuck in our frustrations, we reject what he offers,and thus we blunder deeper into the disasters that we're desperatelytrying to avoid.

The way out of this mess is to remember that we don't know everythingand we really don't understand what's best for us. We don't know howGod, in his great love for us, is already turning our problems intoblessings -- and that's okay!

The way out of the mess is to thank God for whatever he is doing, evenif we can't see it yet, trusting that of course his plans are good andthat his timing is perfect. Thankfulness is what makes for peace.

1 Maccabees 2:15-29Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15 (with 23b)Luke 19:41-44

The Thanksgiving Prayer

"Our Father,

Help calm the distracting thoughts swirling around our minds so we canpray peacefully. Remind us that words alone are not gratitude. We openour hearts... as we remember that You know us infinitely better thanwe can ever know ourselves. We are struck dumb, wordless, humbled, yetcomforted by the faith you placed in our souls at our baptism, thefriendship of your saints, the utterly reliable embrace of Mary, theprotection of Joseph... yet we have nothing to offer but our silenceas we wait for your word. O Father, what should we pray?

Our prayer of thanksgiving is one word, one way, one truth, one life,one priest, one king, one man carrying us in His arms, bringing usinto the very depths of the Holy Trinity. Our word of thanksgiving is:Jesus.

Jesus, we whisper.Jesus, we long for You.Jesus, the tears well in our eyes.Jesus. You are our prayer.Thank you, Father.Amen."

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FRIDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

NOVEMBER 23, 2007FRIDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR I

1 MACCABEES 4:36-37, 52-59Then Judas and his brothers said, "Now that our enemies have beencrushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it." Sothe whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion. Early in themorning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, themonth of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, they aroseand offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar ofholocausts that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on whichthe Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecratedwith songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. All the people prostratedthemselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar andjoyfully offered holocausts and sacrifices of deliverance and praise.They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns andshields; they repaired the gates and the priests' chambers andfurnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people nowthat the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and hisbrothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the daysof the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy andgladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from thetwenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.

LUKE 19:45-48Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who wereselling. "It is written," he said to them, "`My house will be a houseof prayer'; but you have made it `a den of robbers.'" Every day hewas teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers ofthe law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yetthey could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung onhis words.

REFLECTIONIn Jesus' time, the Temple, and particularly its altar was for theJewish people symbolic of God's presence among them. It was theplace to which the people could go to meet their God. It was, asJesus pointed out, a house of prayer. The solemnity and the beautyof a religious celebration and the Jewish people's unswervingcommitment to its commemoration are indications enough of theimportance the Temple and its altar of sacrifice which continue tohold in their religious life. And this should remind us of theimportance our churches should hold in our lives.

Perhaps for many of us, the church holds a different meaning. It maybe a place where we develop prayer. But prayer comes in differentforms. Some of us prefer to pray quietly in church or in private.Others may prefer to bring their prayer into action, helping thosewho cannot help themselves, serving the poor, conducting catechismclasses, giving of themselves. Whatever or however we pray and howour opinion of our church should appear, we need to remember to havea respect for the significance of the church. This is importantbecause our church is a symbol of community and service for others.It should never be used as a venue for selfish self-serving orexploitation of others.

Today, let our lives, become far more than being confined in thenarrow walls of our homes. Take the risk of reaching out to those whowill receive us.

PRAYER REQUESTSWe pray ...... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for theunborn.... for the strength, healing and speedy recovery of:- Damaso Guevara, Eligia Fernando, Sr. Belen Latorre, DC- Dennis Labayen and Mario Delariarte- Fr. Santos Mena, S.J.- Tom Diokno... for the personal intentions of Pe Family... Good health:- Guevarra Family- Fred and Nel de Leon and family... In Thanksgiving: Jennette... Birthday: Beatrice F. Peralta... for the eternal repose of the soul of Tolentino Abu Sandoval.Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.- Birthday: Celia C. Dizon- Birthday: Heather Marie D. Burke- Birthday: Remedios A. Jose- In Memoriam (+): Potenciano Villegas... for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked ourprayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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